Presentation Profile
FoamDDI - Fast, Reliable and Unbiased Determination of Foaming Tendencies of Lubricants by Digital Detection Imaging.
Currently Scheduled: 1/18/2018 - 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Room: Room 382 A
Main Author
Aaron Mendez Ph.D. - Ayalytical Instruments, Inc #1218
- Juan Ayala - AYALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC
Abstract:
The production, transportation, and processing operations in the oil industry are negatively impacted by the loss of efficiency of lubricating systems. Lubricants degrade overtime due to loss of viscosity, oxidation, polar and water contamination and foaming tendency. These phenomena are addressed by ASTM D892 that empirically rates the lubricants by determining its ability to resist foam formation and dissipate foam creation, however D892 is operator-biased, lengthy and produce low repeatable and reproducible results. Air is ubiquitous in lubricants so, when it is not released effectively, foaming appears, causing machine failures like metal wear, cavitation of pumping equipment, and acceleration of the oxidation rate. The industry spends millions of dollars in lubricant reposition, additives usage and corrective maintenance. Foam inhibitors eliminate or retard the formation of stable foam; however, it is a challenge that demands precise selection of the defoamant agents and careful control of its optimum concentration. The effect of antifoams and accurate measurement of lubricant properties requires continuous and fast response tests. Foam Digital Detection Imaging Apparatus (FoamDDI), can easily provide for fast, unbiased, and reliable results for foam stability and foaming tendency of lubricants. FoamDDI consists of a system for sample conditioning, it is equipped with a high-resolution CCD camera, and a reader unit which possesses a state of the art optics and the VISION algorithm for accurately determining static and dynamic foam heights. The high precision and accuracy of the test lies in precise control of temperatures, air flows and sequences, it follows strictly D892 and is characterized by a minimal operator’s sample manipulation and the elimination of the critical timing involved in the manual assessment. Results show high repeatability and reproducibility. The automatic system produces simultaneously plots, pictures and videos allowing to follow the effect of antifoaming agents, the process dynamics and the quality of lubricants.
